Booklist Review

Taking aim at the "supervillain" climate change, Stevens explains some ways flora and fauna act the hero by drawing greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere to slow down the carbon cycle. Most of the great whales, for instance, not only feed on the plankton that are nourished by their massive "poo-nados" but sink when they die so that the carbon in their bodies remains on the sea floor. Other "climate heroes" of the biosphere include sea otters, forest elephants, echidnas--and readers, who can not only lower their own carbon footprints but suggest ways for others to do likewise. Along with explaining sometimes complex ecological cycles and patterns in easy-to-understand terms, the author highlights the role of microbes in decomposition, extolling the benefits of composting and leaving autumn leaves on the ground; she even describes the eco-devastation wrought by artificial lawn fertilizers and free-roaming cats. Ford's engagingly informal ink-and-wash portraits and diagrams generally come with helpful captions and labels. Ending lists of URLs and print resources are select but as fresh as the premise.